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Blackened Tilapia with Cilantro Lime Sauce – bursting with flavor, this easy-to-make meal cooks in 10 minutes!
Why This Recipe Works
- This meal is such an easy one to prepare and comes together in just 10 minutes.
- It’s healthy, low in calories and so flavorful.
- I make a quick, creamy cilantro lime sauce in my food processor that compliments the spiciness of the fish.
Ingredient Notes
See recipes box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Creamy cilantro lime sauce ingredients: Plain greek yogurt (or sour cream), cilantro, lime juice, chili flakes and salt.
- Seasonings: Smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, cumin, salt and black pepper.
- Tilapia: I used 4 tilapia fillets.
- Oil: I use canola oil, but vegetable oil works just fine.
- Tortilla (optional): If you wanted to make fish tacos, flour or corn tortillas would be perfect.
- Avocado (optional): As an optional topping.
How To Make This Recipe
For the rub: I use a combination of smoked paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. I mix the spices together and rub the mixture onto both sides of the tilapia. Then, I place the fillets in a large skillet and cook for about 3 minutes per side.
For the creamy cilantro lime sauce: Combine the greek yogurt (or sour cream), cilantro, lime juice, chili flakes and salt in a food processor; process until smooth.
Expert Tips
- If your fish is frozen, allow enough time for it to thaw, covered, in the refrigerator. For faster thawing, transfer the fish to a resealable plastic bag and submerge in a bowl of cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes until thawed.
- If you don’t have any tortillas on hand and you would like to make your own, you can follow our small batch Flour Tortillas recipe on our One Dish Kitchen site.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Blackened Seasoning?
Blackened seasoning is a flavorful combination of seasonings used to create a delightful crust on fish, chicken, and other meats. I use a combination of smoked paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
What Wine Pairs Well With Blackened Tilapia?
The blackened tilapia pairs well with a light red wine such as a Pinot Noir. If you prefer white wine, try a light Sauvignon Blanc.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy!
Blackened Tilapia With Cilantro Lime Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt (or sour cream)
- 1 cup cilantro leaves , loosely packed
- 2 teaspoons lime juice
- 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 tilapia fillets
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- tortillas (optional)
- 1 avocado , peeled and sliced (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, chili flakes and salt in a food processor; process until smooth. Set aside.
- Combine the smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and pepper in a sall bowl. Sprinkle evenly over both sides of fish.
- Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
- Serve over tortillas, if desired and top with cilantro lime sauce and avocado slices.
Oh my cuteness! Little Tucker is adorable. I remember those sleepless nights when our dogs were pups…just like having a newborn. We put a box fan near their crates during those early days to help calm them and block out some of the crying for us. It worked pretty quickly, from what I can remember.
This tilapia looks amazing! All the flavors going on make my mouth water. Can’t wait to try it!
Thank you so much, Maegan. The box fan is a really great idea, I’ll have to try that.
Sorry to hear about little Tucker and hope he adjusts to his new surroundings soon. Now to the food, love the rub you used and am sure it added a lot of flavor! I have to try this soon! Pinned.
Thanks, Abigail. With each day, Tucker is doing better and better 🙂
Tilapia is the only fish I can get where I am that is fresh! Can’t believe that being so close to the coast but Kroger here sucks. At least I now have a good recipe for it! Thanks!
I hope you like the recipe, Jennifer. Thank you.
I love tilapia, this sounds like a wonderful preparation! Your new puppy is adorable, congrats!
Thank you, Joy.
Mmmm!!!!!! At Whole Foods they used to make BLACKENED Catfish – MY FAVORITE! But they have since switched to Tilapia!! Gunna start LOADING UP! 😉
Blackened catfish is great too. Thanks, Gigi.
Awww, he just melts my heart. If he is anything like my Golden, he will be super happy (and shed a lot!) This tilapia looks amazing and super simple!
Thanks, Kacey. Labs are such good-natured dogs, we can already see his sweetness in his personality.
This blackened tilapia looks amazing….of course you had me with the avocados! And the new pup is adorable…they are a lot work, but they love you unconditionally!
Thank you, Sarah. He’s certainly keeping us busy but we’re having fun with him.
Oh my gosh, Tucker is adorable!!! I wish I could dog sit him 🙂
Thanks, Beth. He’s such a cutie!
This is great. I’m always looking for ways to spice up tilapia.
Thanks, Christine.
That looks seriously delicious! We’ll definitely be trying it! And Tucker is adorable! When we got our puppy a few years back, he just wanted to snuggle and he slept with us like a cat would, tucked under your arm. Now he usually sleeps at the foot of the bed (he’s a big boy now, German Shepard – Golden mix) or on the rug next to the bed. He also has a crate that he loves…but at night he never did the crate.
Thank you, Michelle. We’re learning as we go with Tucker. He’s doing better with the crate at night and we moved him into our room which has helped. He may end up sleeping at the foot of our bed too 🙂